Matte creator Melissa Clayton walked into the Tank asking for $100,000 in exchange for 20% of her company. At the time of filming, The Matte had lifetime sales of $200,000 over three years, with $20,000 of that coming in over the 30 days prior to filming. Clayton garnered these sales through word-of-mouth and working with influencers.
As soon as the pitch ended, Kevin O'Leary expressed his skepticism about the product. Clayton explained that The Matte was selling for $24.99, with a cost of $7 landed to make the product. To which O'Leary replied, "Melissa, I haven't even bought it, and I want my money back. In this product and opportunity, all I see is a barn," referencing his iconic line where he told entrepreneurs to take their business into the barn and shoot it. After O'Leary backed out, Mark Cuban chimed in to say that he saw the product's merits as a father to young girls, but it wasn't his area of expertise, so he bowed out.
Kendra Scott and Barbara Corcoran revealed they had dealt with cramped bathrooms as children with several siblings, so they understood the inspiration behind the product. But Scott didn't invest because she felt The Matte's name didn't align with the solution. Cochran didn't make an offer because the business didn't feel investable. However, Lori Greiner offered $100,000 for 33.3% equity,and Clayton accepted. After Clayton left the tank, O'Leary joked that they should have a moment of silence for the $100,000 that just died.
